CIAA and Visit Baltimore Celebrate Successful 2022 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament
By:Ben Baxter
CIAA Tournament Week Brings Positive Economic and Community Impact to Baltimore
Baltimore, MD — Visit Baltimore and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, are pleased to recap the success of the 2022 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship during the tournament’s first in-person run in Baltimore since 1952.
The tournament had approximately 66,000 in attendance over 22 basketball games during its 5-day run that took place Feb. 22-26 at the Royal Farms Arena. Total attendance for Saturday’s championship games was 13,207, which exceeded the tournament’s attendance on championship day for 2019 in its former host city by nearly 4,000 and surpassed expectations amid the pandemic. This year’s championship attendance totals were just 1,600 behind the tournament’s most recent run in 2020, which was also the conference’s 75th anniversary celebration.
“I am so proud of what we accomplished in our first live year with Baltimore after going nearly two years between crowning champions! Our teams worked overtime to manage the unknowns in a new city and in the midst of unprecedented times with the ongoing pandemic,” stated Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner of the CIAA. “We focused on the people from start to finish, which made this event special. The positive feedback received has been overwhelming. Baltimore’s welcoming spirit and focus on basketball confirmed why they are called the “Charm City”! We appreciate the commitment from Visit Baltimore, Bowie State University, the offices of the Mayor and Governor to support the great work of the CIAA staff and the local organizing committee to make this year’s tournament a resounding success!”
In addition to the sensational basketball games, the tournament week included several annual staple CIAA events that celebrated HBCU’s and Black excellence such as the CIAA Fan Fest at the Baltimore Convention Center, a virtual High School Education Day, the Men & Women Student-Athlete Empowerment Symposium, Career Expo Day and CIAA Hall of Fame Breakfast. In concert with Baltimore City and invested partners from the public and private sectors, Visit Baltimore also created a multitude of meaningful off-the-court educational programming for the community and student-athletes including: a 2022 Tech Summit at the Columbus Center, Virtual CIAA Career and Education Expo, Money Moves Financial Summit at the Four Seasons Hotel, Mental Health Wellness Forum at the Sagamore Pendry Hotel and a Baltimore Youth Sports Clinic at the Under Armor House by Fayette operated by Living Classrooms.
“Through the CIAA Tournament, it was an honor to showcase all that makes Baltimore great – specifically our Black history, culture and excellence. We are grateful for Mayor Brandon Scott and the city for their support in helping to make the tournament a resounding success,” said Al Hutchinson, President & CEO of Visit Baltimore. “In terms of economic impact, we are waiting on the full economic impact report, but we have received feedback from a number of hotels, restaurants and ride share companies saying that this year outperformed a typical February. As the tournament grows in Baltimore year over year, so will its economic impact on our city’s businesses.”
In addition to the games and community events, the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland, Visit Baltimore and the Local Host Committee partnered to raise $800,000 for the CIAA General Scholarship Fund, which supports the 12 member universities and students attending these historically Black institutions. This donation was made possible by the local businesses that make up the Local Host Committee, along with corporate contributions from partners including BGE, Verizon, Bank of America, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Amtrak, Under Armor, the Cordish Companies, Whiting Turner, PNC Bank, T. Rowe Price, the Brown Advisory and many others.
Visit Baltimore activated and promoted the tournament with high-impact signage at BWI, Amtrak, throughout downtown, along major byways in and out of the city, and along Morgan State and Coppin State campuses. The destination marketing organization also added a new Black-owned business directory to its BoP Pass which unlocks deals and discounts to Baltimore’s Black museums, restaurants, shops and other cultural and historical attractions throughout the city.
Thanks to a partnership between Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) and the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement the tournament provided job opportunities for 40 young entrepreneurs in Baltimore who assisted with beautification efforts throughout Downtown during tournament week. DPOB also launched several initiatives to support and celebrate Baltimore’s Black-owned businesses including a 3-Point Pop Up Experience at PowerPlant LIVE!, featuring 25 local businesses and a Black-Owned Restaurant Tour. Additionally, several community groups received tickets to the CIAA basketball games including Mentoring Male Teens in The Hood, Frederick Douglass High School Basketball Team, Emilie Wall Foundation, Baltimore Terps Youth Football & Cheer, Cherry Hill Eagles Foundation Inc., Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement Disconnected Youth Program, and Prince George’s County-based Team Takeover.
“As Mayor of Baltimore, it has been an honor to host the CIAA tournament. The Black excellence of the CIAA and our community here in Baltimore are a match made in heaven,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “One of the most meaningful parts of the CIAA experience in Baltimore was the way our local businesses, City officials, State leadership and community leaders came together to celebrate Black culture and uplift the twelve great CIAA institutions along with our city’s HBCUs that are providing opportunities and pathways for success to our city’s youth.”
Over 260 community members served as volunteers during the 38 events and 22 basketball games that took place during the tournament, providing information and wayfinding support at BWI Airport, Penn Station and hotels in the tournament footprint. Additionally, students from the CIAA host institutions had the opportunity to serve in internship positions working directly with the tournament management and media departments.
